Innuendo and "inside knowledge" aside, it appears that people in a frenzy to report juicy gossip from across the globe set themselves up for rebuke.

Originally reported by NBA insider extraordinaire, Adrian Wojnarowski, there was a heated altercation that was "really bad" outside the Suns locker room between C Jermaine O'Neal and GM Lance Blanks. Folks used conjecture to determine the nature of the argument, coincidentally juicing up the story in the process.

The confrontation happened after interim coach Lindsey Hunter's first practice and unfolded within earshot of several Suns players in the locker room, sources said. Initially, O'Neal had expressed disappointment that his veteran stature hadn't dictated the front office turning to him for counsel in the recent coaching change, a league source told Y! Sports. When O'Neal kept challenging Blanks, the discussion started to become an argument and ultimately a screaming match.

Jermaine O'Neal responded vehemently tonight via twitter.

So there's a mole in the Suns front office feeding things to insiders several thousand miles away. Woj has great sources, so it's likely the two men had some kind of discussion that was overheard by someone who wanted more and more stuff leaked to the media and chose this opportunity to do it.

What actually happened between O'Neal and Blanks is still up in the air, but it sure appears that maybe someone stepped a little too lively over their bounds.

When asked about the classification of his departure as a "mutual parting" Gentry responded:

I think that obviously they wanted to make a change and they told me that I would no longer be the coach here. They had a right to do that. After talking and everything, they thought it was best for their franchise.

I said, ‘Ok. It's time to move on.'

On Sarver:

I wish Robert nothing but the best. He has been great to me. He's been great to my family and I told him that. He's been great to me from a career standpoint.

On the Suns decision to pass over Majerle and Turner for the interim coaching job :

I thought they were well qualified. I thought they could have done a great job with it, but the powers that be decided to go another direction. If you're asking me if I think their feelings were hurt, obviously they were and I think they were very disappointed that one of them didn't get the opportunity to do it.

When posed the question, "Were you ever comfortable with the presence of Lindsey Hunter?":

(five second pause) I don't think it's that important to answer that. It is what it is. Like I said, the decisions have been made and everybody moves on. It is what it is.

Gentry spoke of his appreciation for the fans and the friendships he had made. He refused to name specifics in terms of the people who did and didn't support him within the organization.

Two things that struck me and one that didn't.

1. Gentry reiterated several times that it was the Suns decision for him to leave, not his.

2. Gentry twice expressed thanks to Robert Sarver, once early in the audio and again towards the end. He said that he respects Sarver and that Sarver has tried to do what it takes to win.

The details of this case are somewhat confusing, but it appears that Lindsey Hunter was alleged to have participated in a 2007 real estate transaction that caught the attention of federal investigators. According to reports going back to 2008, Hunter, along with a partner (Ivan Johnson), participated in a scheme that allowed a former school maintenance worker (Bruce McClellan) to purchase a $1.2m Michigan home.

Per McClellan's account, Hunter was actively involved in the deal and added McClellan to his bank account to help facilitate the transaction. McClellan's attorney confirmed today that the FBI investigation is on-going. He expressed hope that the investigation would be concluded within six months.

So far, Wayne County investigators consider (Hunter) a victim, with someone else serving as what they describe as "a mastermind."

The FBI, on the other hand, according to sources close to its investigation, has him as its main focus and as a leading participant in at least two possibly fraudulent deals that went awry.

Details of the alleged fraud can be found in this 2008 account from Bruce McClellan:

Lindsey Hunter and Mortgage FraudAccording to Lindsay Hunter and Ivan Johnson, the deal involved buying a $1.2 Million home and selling it for $2.1 Million to a buyer Lindsey and Ivan had already identified and received a commitment from to buy the house.

All I needed to do, Ivan and Lindsey told me, was apply for the home loan for the $1.2 Million purchase, and they’d handle the rest. When I expressed doubt about my ability to qualify for a $1.2 Million loan, both men told me not to worry, that they would handle everything. Once again, as I did when Ivan first told me about Lindsey Hunter and L&I Enterprises, I expressed my concern for only working on legitimate deals and keeping my good credit in good standing.

Again, both men told me I had nothing to be concerned about. For a man making less than $45,000 a year, what Lindsay Hunter was telling me was quite appealing, as was the star treatment I was receiving from a well-known veteran NBA player.

In a 2011 story published by My TV20 in Detroit has additional information, including a statement from Hunter's attorney proclaiming his innocence.

"While we are unable to comment on the specific facts involved in this matter because of the likelihood of potential litigation, Mr. Hunter emphatically denies any involvement in any wrongdoing on the part of other members of L&I Enterprises Inc.

"Mr. Hunter was strictly a silent partner of L&I Enterprises Inc. who relied upon representations made to him by individuals he believed in and trusted. He subsequently discovered the representations to be untrue. Immediately upon doing so, Mr. Hunter terminated any and all dealings he had with those individuals and L&I Enterprises Inc.

"Mr. Hunter is presently exploring any and all legal options available to him to defend his name and reputation against the allegations made against him including filing charges with the Wayne County Sheriffs Department."